[Congenital gastroschisis--prenatal diagnosis and perinatal management]. / Kongenitale Gastroschisis--pränatale Diagnose und perinatales Management.

The birth prevalence of gastroschisis is increasing world-wide. This situation applies particularly to young, slim women who smoke. At a first glance this is a paradox in light of the ever-increasing age of pregnant women among whom there are fewer and fewer smokers. In numerous studies it has been clearly demonstrated that not only (nutritional) teratogenic substances and environmental factors but also epidemiological causes can be held responsible for this phenomenon. Nowadays gastroschisis is detected prenatally in up to 90% of all foetuses. Advantages of a prenatal diagnosis include the identification of associated disorders and the determination of a high-risk constellation (IUGR, intraabdominal bowel dilatation or vanishing gut). This is essential for an adequate interdisciplinary counseling for the afflicted parents together with obstetricians, paediatric surgeons and neonatalogists. The efficacy of serial amnioexchanges with regard to a better neonatal outcome has as yet not been unambiguously clarified. The possibilities for surgical procedures on the foetus are limited and can at present only be considered as experimental attempts in animal models. From an obstetrical perspective the in utero transport and elective Caesarean section before completion of the 36 (th) week of gestation in a tertiary centre with appropriate facilities (paediatric surgery, neonatalogy) seem to be the course recommended by most authors in spite of inconclusive data. The survival rates for babies with gastroschisis after operative treatment (primary defect closure, silotechnique) are considerably high (>90%).

Localization of 99mTc-Sn-pyrophosphate in left ventricular aneurysms.

Concentration of 99mTc-pyrophosphate (99mTc-PPi) in the area of left ventricular aneurysms is discussed. In three cases clinical, laboratory, and electrocardiographic (ECG) evidence did not indicate that these patients currently had an acute myocardial infarction, but each patient had a clinical history and an ECG picture compatible with an old myocardial infarction. Cardiac catheterization revealed a large left ventricular aneurysm in all three cases. The reason for the preferential uptake of the radionuclide in the area of these aneurysms is not certain at this time.

Comparison of Tc-99m pyrophosphate and Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate in acute myocardial infarction: concise communication.

This study compared Tc-99m pyrophosphate (PPi) and Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) for myocardial infarct imaging in 24 patients with diagnosed acute myocardial infarction. The radiopharmaceuticals were administered randomly and interpreted without knowledge of the sequence used. Twenty-three patients (96%) had positive Tc-99m PPi scintigrams, but only 17 (71%) had a positive Tc-99m MDP study (P less than 0.05). In addition, a comparison of the relative intensity with each agent revealed greater intensity with Tc-99m in 21 cases, equal intensity in two cases, and less intensity in only one case (p less than 0.001). These findings support the superiority of Tc-99m PPi as the agent of choice for myocardial scintigraphy in acute infarction.

Evaluation of aortocoronary bypass graft status by computed tomography.

The efficacy of contrast-enhanced computed tomography to define graft patency status was studied in 42 patients with 100 aortocoronary vein grafts. The status of each graft had been determined earlier by angiography. A rotary fan beam whole body scanner with a 2 second scan duration was used. Initial scans determined the optimal level for study of the graft; patency was assessed by computed tomographic enhancement of the graft after intravenous bolus injection of 30 ml meglumine and sodium diatriazoate. The computed tomographic studies were evaluated without knowledge of the angiographic findings; graft status by computed tomography was interpreted as patent, occluded or equivocal. Overall, computed tomography correctly defined graft patency status in 79 of the 100 grafts and incorrectly identified it in 9; in 12 grafts, the computed tomographic diagnosis was equivocal. Computed tomography correctly identified 61 of 74 patent grafts and 18 of 26 occluded grafts. Patency status was correctly defined by computed tomography in 35 of 37 grafts to the left anterior descending artery, 23 of 30 grafts to circumflex branches and 19 of 31 grafts to the right coronary artery. These data indicate that computed tomography is a promising noninvasive method of determining patency of aortocoronary bypass grafts, especially of grafts to the left anterior descending artery.

Comparison of hospital and neighborhood controls in a study of coronary artery disease.

Case-control studies of risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) have almost invariably employed hospital controls, with minimal or no coronary artery stenosis. Although there is an important advantage in knowing the CAD status of controls, such groups are subject to bias related to hospitalization. To evaluate the generalizability of results obtained from studies using hospital controls, we compared risk factors in 342 hospital controls free of angiographic evidence for CAD, 168 neighborhood controls without symptoms of CAD, and 450 CAD patients. Coronary artery disease in cases and hospital controls was established arteriographically. No significant differences were found between the male control groups for total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, LDL apo-B, pack-years of smoking, body mass index, proportion with hypertension, diabetes and family history of coronary heart disease. Compared with neighborhood controls, male hospital controls had significantly lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, higher triglycerides and uric acid and scored higher on the Framingham Type A behavior pattern scale. Among women, the hospital control group had significantly lower LDL cholesterol and fewer pack-years of smoking, and a greater prevalence of hypertension than the neighborhood group. A greater proportion of both male and female hospital controls had left ventricular hypertrophy, and there were more current smokers among the neighborhood controls in both sexes. Age adjustment did not change these comparisons. While very few neighborhood controls were treated with beta-blockers, 32.7% of male and 41.4% of female hospital controls were so medicated. Control for beta-blocker use eliminated the difference in HDL cholesterol and triglycerides between the two male control groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Myocardial infarction complicated by myocardial rupture and Bacteroides sepsis.

A patient in whom a myocardial rupture complicated recent myocardial infarction was found to have cardiac and systemic Bacteroides sepsis; he had just completed a course of steroids. Surgical repair of the cardiac rupture, mediastinal irrigation with povidone-iodine, and broad-spectrum antibiotics resulted in the patient's recovery.

Changes in pharmacologic treatment of hyperlipidemia.

We evaluated the changes in frequency of pharmacologic treatment of hyperlipidemia in 345 hyperlipidemic patients with symptomatic cardiovascular disease requiring cardiac catheterization between 1982 and 1987. The frequency of pharmacologic treatment increased from 13% (1982) to 59% (1987), with the major increase occurring in 1984. Increases in the frequency of treatment were paralleled by increases in prescriptions for lipid-lowering drugs nationwide. During this period the percentage of hyperlipidemic patients we evaluated who were treated with various agents changed, and at the end of the study the use of gemfibrozil, bile acid-binding resins, and nicotinic acid had increased, whereas clofibrate and probucol use decreased. Although the data showed an increase in prevalence of treatment, almost half the patients remained untreated, and of those treated over half remained hypercholesterolemic despite treatment. The results suggest increasing but incomplete physician awareness of hyperlipidemia as a cardiovascular disease risk factor and the need for further physician education in the pharmacologic management of hyperlipidemia.

Double cardiomyopathy: coexistent cardiac amyloidosis and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

A combination of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and cardiac amyloidosis in the same patient is very rare. Clinical diagnosis could be extremely difficult and may require myocardial biopsy. We are reporting a patient with this combination who was referred to our institution because of features of HOCM based on clinical, echocardiographic and Doppler criteria. Cardiac amyloidosis was only recognized after myocardial biopsy that failed to reveal evidence of HOCM. Only after the patient expired from severe, intractable heart failure did the autopsy findings confirm the association of HOCM. We believe that the combination of the two cardiomyopathic processes is very rare and makes treatment extremely difficult.

[Omphalocele and gastroschisis. Outcome--complications--follow-up--quality of life]. / Omphalocele und Gastroschisis. Ergebnisse--Komplikationen--Verlauf--Lebensqualität.

From 1970 to 1998, 35 children with omphalocele (OC) and 31 with gastroschisis (GS) were treated at the Department of Paediatric Surgery at Lübeck Medical University. Forty of 43 survivors were examined in 1990, the data of 30 patients were renewed in 1999 and 12 new cases added. Total follow-up was 1-28 years. Primary closure was possible in 25 OCs and 20 GSs. Eighteen children with OC and 8 with GS suffered from additional abnormalities, which were treated simultaneously. Twenty percent of the babies with OC died mostly because of severe congenital anomalies and 12.9% of GS because of infectious complications in combination with other diseases. There were no more deaths in the last decade. Accordingly, there was a reduction in consecutive operations. Improvements were due to better operative and perioperative treatment as well as abortions following improved ultrasound examinations. The results of the literature and our own experience show the benefit of primary closure. A two-stage approach with dura/amnion or a silo procedure prevents high intra-abdominal pressure, therefore, indirect measurements of intra-abdominal pressure can be used exceptionally. Umbilical preservation offers better cosmetic results. Long-term follow-up reveals normal growth and development of the children except for those with severe congenital anomalies. All the others are participating without problems in normal activities and education without reduction in their quality of life. Today an isolated OC or GS is not an indication for abortion. If prenatal OC or GS is diagnosed, paediatric surgeons should be involved in the consultations.

En face demonstration of a prosthetic mitral valve orifice during left ventriculography.

Direct demonstrate of the orifice of a prosthetic mitral valve was obtained using an en face projection of the mitral valve during left ventriculography. With a dimensional reference and planimetry, the mitral valve area was directly measured. The value for the mitral valve area derived from en face demonstration of the mitral valve during left ventriculography agreed well with valve area estimates obtained by the Gorlin and Gorlin formula and by direct examination of the surgical specimen.

Coronary artery thrombus: rapid resolution shown by serial coronary arteriography.

Resolution of a coronary artery thrombus within two weeks was demonstrated by serial coronary arteriography in a man with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. This observation indicates that subtotal coronary artery thrombosis does not invariably progress to complete occlusion of the affected vessel and that the resolution of coronary artery thrombus can occur rapidly.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic control of varicoceles using angiodynography]. / Diagnostik und Therapiekontrolle der Varikozele mittels Angiodynographie.

We report on the results of angiodynography of 21 patients with suspected varicoceles. In 14 cases a varicocele could be diagnosed. Additionally, 19 patients underwent conventional Doppler sonography (16 with positive findings), 7 thereof also a testicular phlebography (5 positive findings). Thus, in conventional Doppler sonography there were 2 false positive findings. With angiodynography it was possible to detect an existing varicocele in all 14 (of the 21) cases even if only a small retrograde flow existed. In 11 of the cases this could be graded with the help of the flow velocity. In case of negative findings in angiodynography, further invasive techniques are unnecessary. However, before embolisation of a varicocele and to show preoperatively vessel variations or collateral vessels, testicular phlebography is still indicated.

Left ventricular to right atrial defect and tricuspid insufficiency secondary to nonpenetrating cardiac trauma.

We present a report of a 28-year-old male patient who developed a left ventricular to right atrial communication associated with tricuspid insufficiency secondary to nonpenetrating cardiac trauma. The patient's heart block was clarified by serial observation of electrocardiograms and the use of HIS bundle electrocardiography. The patient's fistula was surgically repaired, and 20 months postinjury he is asymptomatic and pacemaker dependent. Echocardiography may aid in the early diagnosis of a left to right shunt and/or tricuspid insufficiency in the setting of possible cardiac trauma.

Spasm of the aortocoronary venous graft.

Two cases of spasm of the coronary artery bypass graft are reported, and the angiographic and clinical findings are discussed. Few previous reports of this entity were found in a search of the literature. The therapeutic implications are also presented.

Studies of low density lipoprotein molecular weight in human beings with coronary artery disease.

Low density lipoprotein molecular weight (LDL MW) correlates positively with coronary artery disease in cholesterol-fed nonhuman primates. To evaluate this in human beings with coronary artery disease (CAD) we measured LDL MW in 93 volunteers undergoing coronary angiography (47 controls and 46 CAD patients). LDL MW of CAD patients was less than that of controls (patients, 2.79 +/- 0.17 g/mumol; controls, 2.93 +/- 0.19 g/mumol; P less than 0.001). However, LDL MW decreased as plasma triglyceride increased and concentrations of triglyceride were greater in CAD patients than in controls. Since decreased LDL MW is likely to result, in part, from increased plasma triglyceride concentrations, we attempted to determine the effect of triglyceride on the relation of LDL MW to CAD in this study. After covariance adjustment for triglyceride, there was no LDL MW difference between CAD patients and controls. Because LDL heterogeneity has been identified in other studies and was apparent on inspection of agarose column profiles of LDL of these volunteers, we sought differences in the profiles that might distinguish coronary disease cases from controls. No differences could be found. In addition, we used density gradient ultracentrifugation to characterize LDL in more detail in a subset of volunteers who had a wide range of plasma triglyceride concentrations (50 mg/dl to 900 mg/dl). LDL mean hydrated density was inversely related to LDL MW and increased as triglyceride increased. The increase in peak density was reflected in an increase in percent of total protein in LDL found to have d greater than 1.045 g/ml and a decrease in protein in LDL of d 1.035-1.040 g/ml. These interrelationships were not apparently influenced by coronary artery status.